Mary, Full of Grace
My new Advent book, Not a Silent Night, looks at Jesus through the eyes of Mary. Chapter one begins at the end of Mary’s life and each successive chapter goes back in…
A Defining Moment
In the last few posts, we’ve been looking at Christmas through Mary’s eyes. We began by considering Mary’s perspective on Christmas as she approached her own…
The Piercing of Mary’s Soul
About fifteen years before Mary’s death, she watched her son die. It was the day we now call Good Friday, but to Mary there was nothing that seemed good about it as she …
The Hope of Resurrection
At the Church of the Resurrection each year in December, we hold a special worship service for everyone who lost a loved one that year. We recognize that Christmas itself can…
Christmas Through Mary's Eyes
Can you believe that Advent begins in four weeks? What will your church or small group study for the Advent season this year that will help you experience the meaning of…
Three Short Video Clips From Wesley's England
During the last few weeks, I’ve been publishing excerpts from my new book, Revival, which focuses on the life and faith of John Wesley and how his experience and approach to …
Charles Wesley and the Music of the Wesleyan Revival
I’ve blogged recently about John Wesley’s life and faith, which is the subject of my new book, Revival. But I must also highlight another great leader in the…
Opposition, Persecution, and Perseverance
John Wesley challenged listeners throughout England (and Scotland, Ireland, and Wales) to a deeper level of commitment and a serious pursuit of a holy life. Wesley said that many…
God's Love for Sinners and Drunkards
As I look back over my life, the best parts all have something to do with the love of God. My choice to follow God has made me a better husband to my wife, a better father to my…
God’s Violence in the Old Testament, Part 3: Possible Solutions
This post is a continuation of my previous two posts. Together they are an excerpt from one chapter of my new book, Making Sense of the Bible (HarperOne, 2014). The book…